[Expert Solution]: A 79 year old white male is taking…

A 79 year old white male is taking hydrocodone/APAP 10/325 for lower back pain (pt diagnosed with degenerative disc disease several months ago). The physician had written a prescription for Vicodin® 10/325 1 or 2 tablets Q4-6h prn pain with a quantity of 120. Her expectation was that this would last the patient for one month. The patient is now requesting refills about every 10-14 days. He states he has been taking 2 tabs Q4h (12 tablets per day) because “the pain is so bad I just can’t stand it!”. He also tells the provider he is “constipated so bad it somtimes hurts to sit, bend or walk”.